School Board Discusses Cuts, Focuses On Deputy Position

April 2, 1993|By MICHAEL E. YOUNG, Staff Writer

Broward Schools Superintendent Sam Morgan presented an organizational plan to the School Board on Thursday that trims three administrative jobs, but not the job his bosses were most interested in -- that of deputy superintendent.

Morgan told the board his organizational chart for administrators ``includes the staff I believe is needed to carry out the mission of this school district.``

It calls for keeping 302 administrative jobs, including deputy superintendent, a job being vacated in June by William Dandy, who is retiring.

Board members focused on that job because not filling it would save the school district Dandy`s $107,855 annual salary, plus benefits.

The cost for the 302: a little more than $21 million in salaries and benefits.

``The district has reached the point where it must maintain staff to provide quality education,`` he said.

The 180,000-student district has added 37,000 students since 1988, an increase of 26 percent. It has added 1,726 teachers, up 21 percent since 1988. It has built 24 new schools. In the same period, the number of administrators has been cut by 12 percent, Morgan said.

School Board members had some questions about the changes and about some possible realignments, but they spent most of the time talking about the deputy superintendent`s job.

``I`m very happy to see it remain on the chart,`` board member Lois Wexler said. ``A district this size definitely needs something like this.``

Board member Toni Siskin wondered whether the job could be changed into a rotating position filled by different associate superintendents to give them the background they need to move ahead.

Board member Diana Wasserman suggested eliminating the job and adding more associate superintendents to run specific areas of the school system.

``There would be more opportunities for people to get into leadership ... and would provide a training ground for more minorities,`` she said.

School Board Chairperson Eileen Schwartz asked Morgan to give the board the pros and cons of keeping the deputy position.

Board member Miriam Oliphant said it was good to have someone prepared to step in when Morgan is not available. She suggested bringing in an outside agency to review the district`s administration.